West starts off on his solo try.
Hitchin 23 Haringey 3
Hitchin bounced back this week in their penultimate league game of the season. The midtable clash with North London neighbours Haringey saw Hitchin take the league points in a fast open game. Dominating the first phase of play Hitchin had plenty of ball to use and kept the Haringey defence stretched for most of the game. An early exchange penalties took the score to 3 -3 halfway through the first half.
The opening try came from centre Stevie Merritt following some great play from the Hitchin team. The ball was moved away from a lineout on the halfway, the line was broke in midfield, a recycling at the breakdown and the ball was moved wide again. With the line in sight Merritt received the final pass and flew over the line. A second penalty from centre partner Chris Stubbs moved the halftime score to 11 - 3.
Hitchin played the second half against the elements but dominated throughout the half. The second try of the game came from prop Stuart West and probably rates amongst the best scored this season. Every rugby club in the land has the ex prop telling the story of the try they scored from the halfway line, whilst his audience all know that he would have been a mere yard from the line. However today it really did happen. And more! West did collect the ball on the halfway line, he then proceeded to outpace the first line of defence, this was followed by a proper stidestep and really was finished by West throwing a dummy to clear the final defender. Had this reporter not been there he would never have believed it and it would have been another rugby bar fairy tale, but West did score from the halfway line!
With the score at 16 - 3 Hitchin played the remaining game in the Haringey half. The final score of the match came from Lewis Skittrall, who having watched his front row colleague West score, took exactly the line to run in at the corner in a second good solo effort. With Stubbs adding the conversion the game came finished 23 - 3.
Team Thomas Tidey, William Corrigan, Stuart West, Ryan Arbon, Philip Hobbs, Joe Benucci, Dominic Bush, John Perkins, Ed Taylor, Dale Baines, Matt Lippard, Christopher Stubbs, Steve Merritt, James Larman, Carwyn Morgan
Subs Sean McGinnity, Stefan Brand, Lewis Skittrall, Emma Cooke
Scores T: Steve Merritt (1), Stuart West (1), Lewis Skittrall (1)
C: Christopher Stubbs (1)
P: Christopher Stubbs (2)
Player(s) of Match 1. Dominic Bush, 2. John Perkins, 3. Stuart West
The league: London North West 3